Well balanced; tight, realistic bass

At various times during the four years I auditioned speakers models from Vandersteen, Magnepan, Martin Logan and Thiel were at the top of my buying list None of these were bought because there was something about each that just wasn't right. The Maggies imaged like crazy, but the "sweet spot" for listening was too small, the Vandies were, for my taste, too laid back, etc. Ultimately I bought the Hales Revelation 3 because, unlike most everything else in this price range, they just plain don't do anything wrong.

The Hale's image well, present a wide and deep soundstage, handle male and female voices with aplomb, the highs are crisp without being harsh and the bass sounds like bass is supposed to, deep and solid, not thumpy and hollow. In fact, the bass performance is what ultimately sold me on them.

Overall, the Hales are fine instruments for reproducing music.

Related equipment:
McCormack DNA-1 amp (with SMc Audio Rev. B upgrade)
Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp
CAL Alpha DAC/Delta transport
Hales Design Group Revelation 3 speakers
NBS, BMI, Illuminati and Analysis Plus cables, cords and ICs

Similar Products Used:

Thiel, Martin Logan, Vandersteen, Magnepan, Paradigm, numerous others

Timbral Accuracy, Build quality, Full range frequency response, Value for money

Spikes, Grill covering

I bought these speakers on impulse used for $1000.00. I hadnt heard Hales speakers before and was so impressed I had to have them. Would have gladly paid $2200 a pair for these knowing what I know now. These speakers need a good amplifier to drive them effectively. The weaknesses as mentioned in many other reviews are the grille cloth coverings. They cannot be removed easily and the light fabric snaggs very easily. They are sonically invisible though. I mounted the spikes with wood inserts but the 3 spike arrangement that Hales uses allows the heavy speaker to tip easily. I later bought a pair of Hales concept 2's and the Revelations easily outperform the concept 2 in every area sonically. Visually the concept series is a more striking speaker with a grill frame that can be easily removed. I have not heard a full range speaker in this price range that outperforms the Hales.

Equipment used

Acurus A250 amplifier
Marantz AV600 preamplifier (or direct output from CD player)
Marantz CD 63SE CD player
HSU research 12v Subwoofer (crossover set to only reproduce below 31 hz) (Subwoofer not needed with the Hales)

Similar Products Used:

Vandersteen 2ce, Hales concept 2, NHT 2.5i, Accoustat Spectra 1100